Long ago, in a kingdom hidden deep within the Silverpine Forest, there lived a young prince named Kael. He was not like other princes. While he had been born into a royal family of men, his blood carried an ancient secret—his mother was said to be descended from the Wolf Lords, guardians of the wild.
Kael grew quickly, strong and restless, with sharp eyes that glowed like amber in the dark. At night, he heard the howls of wolves beyond the castle walls, and in his dreams, he ran with them beneath the moon. When he turned sixteen, the call became too strong to ignore.
One winter night, guided by the full moon, Kael left the warmth of his palace and ventured into the frozen forest. There, a great silver wolf appeared before him, taller than any man. Its eyes gleamed with wisdom.
You are the heir to two thrones," the wolf said, its voice echoing in Kael's mind. "One of men, one of wolves. But to rule the wild, you must prove yourself worthy."
The wolf set him three trials:
1. The Trial of Courage – Kael had to stand unarmed before a raging bear and calm it with nothing but his presence
2. The Trial of Wisdom – He had to choose between saving a hunter, his enemy, or a wolf pup caught in a trap. Kael saved both, earning respect from man and beast alike.
3. The Trial of Loyalty – He was offered a crown of gold by men who wished him to abandon the wolves, and a crown of bone by wolves who wished him to abandon men. Kael refused both, declaring, "I will not choose one over the other. I am son of both, and I will unite them."
When the moon reached its highest, the silver wolf bowed before him, and the pack howled in acceptance. Kael was crowned not with gold or bone, but with the silver light of the moon.
From then on, he was known as the Prince of Wolves, the ruler who walked between worlds. In the villages, men spoke of a king who could command the wild, and in the forests, wolves whispered of a brother who bore a human heart.
And on every full moon, when the forest was bathed in silver light, Kael could still be seen running with his pack, a prince bound by blood, honor, and the howl of the wolves.